| 1. Instead of the wonderful electric lights that we | | | | One tells of how it started with boys who would |
| have on our Christmas trees, our fore fathers | | | | collect money in clay boxes. Another belief is that |
| only had candles to light their trees with. Water | | | | the term is originated about 800 years ago in the |
| was always kept to hand in case of fire. | | | | Middle Ages. Church collection boxes that had |
| 2. There is a tradition of having a Christmas tree | | | | collected donations of money and gifts were |
| on display at Rockefeller Center in New York City. | | | | called 'alms boxes'. Alms churches would open |
| Workers in the construction industry are credited | | | | their 'alms boxes' and give the contents to poor |
| with placing an undecorated tree at the site in the | | | | people on the day after Christmas. Yet another |
| early 1930s.This is how the tradition started. | | | | theory is that it comes from when servants |
| 3. The National Christmas Tree Association has | | | | received their Christmas presents from their |
| maintained a presence in the White House for | | | | masters. Their Christmas presents were in boxes |
| over 40 years. It has donated a Christmas tree | | | | received the day following Christmas day. |
| to the First Family since the mid-1960s. | | | | 10. Even before Christianity started people |
| 4. Manufactured Christmas tree ornaments were | | | | believed that evergreens had the power to ward |
| first sold by the former Woolworth department | | | | off witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. In winter |
| store in 1880. | | | | evergreen trees had special meaning to people. |
| 5. After the use of tinsel was banned, because | | | | Those who worshipped the sun god were |
| lead was used in the production, plastic became | | | | reminded that when Summer returned all the |
| the main material in the production process. | | | | green plants would grow once more and the sun |
| 6. In the late 1830s John Calcott Horsley from | | | | god would be strong again. |
| Britain, R.H.Pease from Albany,New York and Louis | | | | 11. In ancient times, people celebrated the Winter |
| Prang a German immigrant all started to make | | | | Solstice because they believed that the sun god |
| little cards that had seasons greetings on the | | | | had fallen ill and that was why there was a winter |
| inside and a festive scene on the outside. Sending | | | | but he was recovering. So they worshiped him in |
| Christmas cards in the United States and Britain | | | | December every year, many people worshiped |
| became popular about 10 years later when a new | | | | the sun as a god in December because they |
| postal delivery started. | | | | thought winter occurred yearly because the sun |
| 7. The Greek word 'Xristos' which means Christ is | | | | god had fallen into ill health. The winter solstice |
| where it is believed the term Xmas comes from. | | | | was a sign that the son god would begin to |
| In Europe it has been popular since 1500 to | | | | recover his health and once more be strong again. |
| shorten Christmas to Xmas. | | | | 12.In 1659 to 1681 ,when Christmas celebrations |
| 8. White candy canes were the only ones available | | | | were prohibited in Boston if anyone was seen |
| for two hundred years until the 1950s when | | | | observing or participating in any event or activity |
| according to the National Confectioners | | | | related to Christmas they were fined five |
| Association, a machine was invented that could | | | | shilling.On Christmas Day in 1789, legislators in |
| produce the traditional red and white candy canes. | | | | Congress did business because following the |
| 9. The 26th December is a national holiday in | | | | American Revolution it became unpopular to take |
| England. It is called Boxing Day there are several | | | | part in or observe English customs. |
| different tales as to how the name came about. | | | | |